Weekly News & Announcements

LPIE

LPIE's 4th Annual Poker Tournament — Last Call!
This is not only a fun night out but also a fundraiser for our schools! Don’t miss your chance to play, win a great prize, and support our students (and your parent volunteers who put this together) all at once! Grab your seat at the table and go all in for our kids!

Sports

*The game schedule below reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact Acalanes Sports Boosters.

This week’s can’t miss events:

Girls volleyball
Tuesday, Oct 8 at Benicia HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Oct 10 host Northgate HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 6:30pm.
Saturday, Oct 12 Sonoma Valley JV Tournament.
 
Girls tennis
Tuesday, Oct 8 Miramonte HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Oct 10 Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
 
Boys water polo
Wednesday, Oct 9 host Miramonte HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Thursday, Oct 10 host Berkeley HS. JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Oct 11 and Saturday Oct 12 Jet Blast JV Tournament.
 
Girls water polo
Wednesday, Oct 9 host Miramonte HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
Saturday Oct 12 host Clovis North HS and Leland HS.
 
Flag football
Wednesday, Oct 9 Berean Christian HS at 2:30pm, Clayton Valley Charter HS at 3:45pm at Berean Christian HS.
 
Football
Thursday, Oct 10 Freshmen at Miramonte HS at 6pm.
Friday, Oct 11 host Miramonte HS. JV at 4:30pm, Varsity at 7pm.
 
Cross country
Saturday, Oct 12 Crystal Springs Invitational.

You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

APC in Action

APC SENDS A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO KATHERINE WALTON!
Let’s hear it for Katherine Walton and the Leadership students for organizing an incredible Homecoming week! Did you hear, all together over ⅓ of the student body participated in HOCO skits, almost 1,200 students attended the HOCO dance, and we donated more than 64,000 cans to the Contra Costa Food Bank, wow!
 
Our amazing Walton works hard all year long to build an enthusiastic and inclusive Acalanes community. Her passion, dedication and school spirit sets the tone on campus. Acalanes is such a special place thanks to Katherine Walton!


 
FALL 2024 GRANT APPLICATION - DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The APC Fall Grant application window is open for one more week! We invite all AHS teachers, staff, students, and parents to submit a grant application for programming, materials or projects that enhance the educational experience for our school community; all ideas are welcome. Click here for criteria and application. Completed proposals and questions can be submitted by Friday, Oct 4 to Nicole Sanders, APC Grants Coordinator, or delivered to the APC Box in the front office.
 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.

Parents Club Pro-Tip

GRADING WINDOWS AND REMINDERS
Parents/guardians should have received an email last week from Parent Square with a Progress Report for your student(s). Note, the Progress Report shows just a snapshot of the grading status on Friday, Sep 20 and may already show something different in Canvas now.
 
1st Semester Grading Window:

• Q1 Progress Report: Sep 20
• Q1 Ends: Oct 11
• Q2 Progress Report: Nov 8
• Semester 1 Ends: Dec 20

The best way to support our students academically is not necessarily through these report cards but more so by being an "Observer" in Canvas and encouraging and assisting our students with self-advocacy.
 
The Acalanes educational philosophy reinforces the learning over the points. When reviewing Canvas with your students please help your students keep this in mind.
 
If you have questions about grading or resources for students please attend our next Dons Dialogue (Oct 18) for open discussion on topics like this and more.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR RUN: Sunday, Oct 20
The Race Before the Race Continues - Register NOW
Lafayette's public schools are beneficiaries of this event, with 15% percent of each registration going back to Acalanes - so be sure to choose Acalanes during the registration process! The school who most increases their number of runners compared to last year will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check! (We’ve got this Dons!)
 
Run/walk downtown Lafayette in the 2-mile fun run/walk or 5k, or strive for your best 10k time, which includes going around the Lafayette Reservoir on race day, Sunday, Oct 20. There is also a virtual option around the paved trail of the reservoir from Oct 12-19.
Thank you for supporting our schools!
 



ACALANES HIGH SCHOOL SEEKS PARENT REPS FOR SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
Acalanes is searching for 4-5 parents to join the Acalanes School Advisory Council. This year we hope to have representation from all four grade levels, and parents of students from a variety of interests and backgrounds. The Acalanes High School School Advisory Council meets five times a year to provide a forum for staff, students, and parents to discuss progress and provide feedback on the school site plans like the AHS Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), the school safety plan, and progress on issues of equity and access. Please click here and fill out the form to indicate your interest in participating in the Acalanes School Advisory Council.
 

SHOE DRIVE FOR WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIPS
The Community Outreach and Improvement Program is hosting a shoe drive for the Lamorinda branch of the American Association of University Women from Monday, Sept 30 to Friday, Oct 11. Please donate your gently used sneakers to the bins outside the front office. The donations fund scholarships for women in our community! Please check out our website for more donation options and information about us: https://sites.google.com/view/coip-ahs/home!

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important September Dates

Important Dates

• Sep 15-Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
• Sep 30 Black Student Union (BSU) Summit
• LGBTQ History Month
• Filipino American History Month
• Oct 2-4 Rosh Hashanah
• Oct 10 World Mental Health Day
• Oct 11-12 Yom Kippur
• Oct 14 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Oct 31 Diwali

Latinos Unidos has a few more fun activities for students for the remainder of Hispanic Heritage month. Please check out our IG and the Daily Don to find dates and times.

Black Student Union Summit is tomorrow at St Mary’s College.

Rosh Hashanah is the New Year in Judaism. Rosh Hashanah begins ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals. You can learn more here.

If you would like to get involved please email us at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com. All are welcome.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Student Activities

If you ordered spiritwear from the Gryco webstore and haven’t picked it up, please email Katherine Walton and she can leave it in the attendance office for you.
 
2024-2025 Clubs
Looking to connect your student to a passion? Here are our 77 unique clubs on campus, from Archery Club to the Red Cross Club.
 

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

College & Career

Seniors: Please come by the College and Career Center during 6th, 7th, academy, lunch and/or brunch to work on your common application and UC application. Tips and strategies provided during all sessions. MaiaLearning tutorials are also provided at each visit. Great tips here!
 
Senior Scholarships: Digital Marketing Scholarship due 12/1 and Stand up to Distracted Driving Scholarship due 11/13

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin

MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR CSF! CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor society. Current 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to apply. A complete CSF application has 2 parts - an application form and a payment on the webstore. Turn in forms to the counseling office. The deadline is Sept. 30 for both the form and the payment! Students use the grades they earned in spring 2024 to fill out the form this month. Students who are members for at least 4 semesters, including during senior year, will get a special stole to wear at graduation. Read the FAQ on the application form and contact Ms. Schonauer for any clarification.
 
CLASS SCHEDULES Students can now only drop a class, they can’t add any new classes. Students can drop a first or last class of the day for an Off Campus, or they can drop a class and add a TA that period. The deadline to drop a class is the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 11. After this date, any class dropped will receive an automatic F grade. 
 
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Counselors are finishing up seeing seniors individually to discuss post high-school plans. October is the month we spend writing letters for Early Decision/Action deadlines - each counselor has over 30 letters to write during October! Please have your student see us right away if they need a letter of rec!
 
GRADES AND ELIGIBILITY The next grading period will be in two weeks at the end of first quarter - Oct 11. Continued athletic eligibility will be determined from these grades for fall sports - students must have a 2.0 GPA and be passing five classes.

School Nurse

Here I go talking about healthy food again…
There are two things I want to highlight:

1.  What is true about almost all the students that come into my office not feeling well is that they haven’t eaten breakfast.  Most kids say they don’t have time and/or are not hungry in the morning.  I always start out by asking them what they’d be WILLING to eat.  Our students really need to start their day with “fuel in their tank” for optimal learning (and to feel well).  Could you have that conversation with your student and help take action steps to empower them for academic and health success by EATING BREAKFAST?
2. This past weekend I attended a nutritional conference.  One of the greatest presentations was from an ophthalmologist speaking how important optimal nutrition is for visual health. How can you support optimal nutrition for your kids?  To begin with, provide an abundance of green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and fruits at meals and for snacks.  That’s a good starting point. THis doctor also said evidence shows that kids who play outside for 2 hours a day have a lower incidence of vision issues.  Makes sense but now here’s your reason!

​AHS School Nurse Calendar
See my website for more information.

Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

Wellness Center

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 8 for a districtwide parent education event regarding the fentanyl crisis and its impact on teens. There will be a screening of a documentary from the nonprofit organization Song for Charlie followed by a question and answer panel. Panelists will include Outreach Coordinator from Song for Charlie Laura Didier, LLHS Principal Heather Thorner, LLHS Wellness Coordinator Amelia Whalen, and other community experts. The event will take place on from 6:30-8pm in the Las Lomas High School Theater. All parents within AUHSD and parents from partner districts are welcome to attend.
 
Please use this link if you are interested in attending. RSVP is not required but is helpful for our planning.

Performing & Visual Arts